Getting the perfect nights sleep

When the twins were little, we did some serious work in ensuring they slept well and through the night – because we would have divorced much sooner if they hadn’t.

So the irony that I managed to get two babies sleeping through from 10 weeks, and one of them went on to develop Type 1 diabetes, the condition that steals sleep from the parent, isn’t lost on me.

To all those parents who looked haggard and knackered at baby group, when I sat there with gina ford babies– well – the world got its own back – I now have bags that can hold a full shop under my bloodshot eyes.

So I do everything to ensure I get the best quality of sleep, inbetween the blood tests – or the night shift as my daughter calls it.

In fact – I have dedicated so much time to nailing my sleep – I can drop off in moments, and be awake in seconds.

Its a skill.

So my 3 top tips…

– Invest in a decent mattress.

Don’t mess about on this one – you want to have something that feels like a cuddle when you go to sleep. And ideally doesn’t trump or snore. I’ve reference Ely mattress, mainly because they are a natural mattress made using only locally sourced materials. If you want to try, you get a 30 night sleep trial offered. They’ve just launched a baby Ely cot mattress that is classed as an organic mattress – if you do want to be that perfect mum at baby group.

2. No screens before bed.

Tele – yes – nothing like the News at 10 to help me doze off, but not that phone thing. The blue screen, the content, social media – all of those things are caffine for the brain. Switch it off 30 minutes before bed, read a book, have a cup of tea, talk to your kids.

But stay off the phone.

3. No drinks…

This one may be more for me – but post 35, any drinks after 8.30pm means a midnight run to the loo. And my bladder never runs in sync with a blood sugar check, so its another trip up in the night for me.

If you are under 35 – please disregard and enjoy drinking to your hearts content and not having to live a life directed by your bladder when you are trying to sleep.

They all sound basic – but these three tips have helped me maintain some level of sleep pattern in the 7 years since Diabetes came to live with us….

Broken sleep still means bags, but coffee and exercise ensure I make it through the day!